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Spiranovic not taking final for granted

Angela Habashy

Lifting the German Cup trophy as a teen, defender Matthew Spiranovic admits the significance was lost on him.

Seven years later and Spiranovic now has the chance to help Western Sydney win their maiden A-League championship when they face Brisbane in Sunday's decider and he's more aware than ever what this would mean to him and his club.

Playing with FC Nurnberg in Germany's top flight as an 18-year-old, Spiranovic was brought on in the 72nd minute of their 3-2 extra-time victory in the cup final against Stuttgart in 2007.

On Sunday Spiranovic and the Wanderers will face Roar at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium hoping to atone for last year's grand final loss and he's not taking anything for granted this time.

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"I was fortunate enough to win the German Cup final when I was young and at the time I didn't know what it really meant," Spiranovic told AAP.

"Players had been playing in the Bundesliga for 10 or 15 years and that was the highlight of their career, so when they told me that it really started to sink in.

"This weekend is another opportunity to hold a trophy in the air and they don't come round all that often.

"There was a lot of disappointment after last year's grand final so we'll be doing everything to get the right result this time."

Also at FC Nurnberg at the time was Wanderers skipper Michael Beauchamp and while he featured in more starting line-ups than Spiranovic then, the reverse is true now.

Beauchamp was a constant presence in the Wanderers defence last year, starting all but three games in their inaugural campaign.

But Spiranovic's inclusion this season has resulted in a diminished role for the veteran centre-back.

The 33-year-old has started less than half of the A-League games this season as coach Tony Popovic rotates his squad to accommodate for their the Asian Champions League (ACL) commitments.

Beauchamp admits it was hard to swallow initially but he's made peace with the situation now.

"It's all part of it and I've accepted it," Beauchamp told AAP.

"Spira is a quality player obviously but I still feel I'm in good form.

"But I feel alright about it all now, I feel if I do get selected for Sunday's game I'm definitely ready, but if not then hopefully I get a game in the ACL.

"Everyone has played a part in getting us to the final so it's about the club not the individual.